The Mysteries of Free Masonry: Containing All the Degrees of the Order Conferred in a Master's LodgeMorgan, William
Religion
The Mysteries of Free Masonry: Containing All the Degrees of the Order Conferred in a Master's Lodge
Morgan, William
Freemasonry -- United States -- Rituals
You have passed the Secret and Perfect Master; you have been decorated
with an ivory key, a symbol of your distinction; you have received the
pronunciation of the ineffable name of the Great Architect of the
universe, and have been placed at the first balustrade of the
sanctuary; you have had rank among the Levites, after which you knew
the word "Zizon," which signifies "a balustrade of the Levites;" where
all those are placed, as well as yourself, to expect the knowledge of
the most sublime mysteries.
COFFIN AND ROPE.--In the degree of Perfect Master they have shown you
a grave, a coffin, and a "withe rope," to raise and deposit the body
in a sepulchre, made in the form of a pyramid, in the top of which was
a triangle, within which was the sacred name of the Eternal, and on
the pavement were the two columns of Jachin and Boaz laid across.
IVORY KEY.--By the "ivory key" you are to understand that you cannot
open your heart with safety, but at proper times. By the corpse and
grave is represented the state of man, before he had known the
happiness of our order.
ROPE.--The rope to which the coffin is tied, in order to raise it, is
the symbol of raising one, as you have been raised from the grave of
ignorance to the celestial place where truth resides.
PYRAMID.--The pyramid represents the true Mason who raises himself by
degrees, till he reaches heaven, to adore the sacred and unalterable
name of the Eternal Supreme.
INTIMATE SECRETARY.--This new degree leads you near to Solomon and
honor; and after you redoubled your zeal, you gained new honors and
favors, having nearly lost your life by curiosity; which attachment to
Masonry gave you the good qualities of your heart, and which obtained
your pardon and let you to the "Intendant of the Buildings," where you
saw a "blazing star," a large candlestick with seven branches, with
altars, vases, and purification, and a great brazen sea.
BLAZING STAR.--By the expression of PURIFICATION you are to understand
that you are to be cleansed from impiety and prejudice before you can
acquire more of the sublime knowledge in passing the other degrees, to
be able to support the brilliant light of reason, enlightened by
truth, of which the blazing star is the figure.
CANDLESTICK WITH SEVEN BRANCHES.--By the candlestick with seven
branches you are to remember the mysterious number of the seven
Masters who were named to succeed one; and from that time it was
resolved that seven Knights of Masonry, united together, were able to
initiate into Masonry, and show them the seven gifts of the Eternal,
which we shall give you a perfect knowledge of, when you have been
purified in the Brazen Sea.
BRAZEN SEA.--You have passed from the Secret and Perfect Master to the
Intimate Secretary, Provost and Judge, and Intendant of the Buildings.
In these degrees they have shown you an ebony box, a key suspended, a
balance, and an inflamed urn.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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